Removal of a distal common bile duct stone through percutaneous transhepatic catheterization.

A residual distal common bile duct stone was successfully advanced into the duodenum after percutaneous transhepatic catheterization of the biliary tract. Nonsurgical retrieval of retained biliary duct stones through surgically created T-tube tracts has been shown to be a practical procedure with high reported success rates. Reoperation has been necessary in cases where no drainage tube was introduced at surgery or when stones have formed after the fistula closed. Transhepatic catheterization techniques may provide a way to manipulate residual biliary tract stones when no other access is available.